A local influencer said he was inspired by the attack on former US President Donald Trump on Saturday, 13 July 2024 to threaten Dominican President Luis Abinader with his life to gain views.
Views he gained, but also a major legal problem. The young man only identified by the Police as Starlin, threatened to hit Abinader in the head in a video that went viral across several social media platforms. He turned himself in on the next day, Sunday and was taken to the headquarters of the National Police.
Diego Pesqueira, spokesperson for the National Police, shared the information on his X account. He said the incident is under investigation.
In a subsequent video showing the young man, then at the police station, said he was an “influencer,” “content creator,” and “comedian” who just sought to capitalize on the recent event in the United States where a young man attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump. He said he used this incident to make a threat against the Dominican President to gain attention (views) on social media.
“As the thing with Donald Trump was trending, I’m an influencer and I made the video. But I apologize, because I just make videos, I’m a comedian,” he said on the video.
Acknowledging his mistake, he urged young people not to create such content.
The threat: “Did you see what happened to Donald Trump? We’re going to hit you in the head. If a building collapses in the country and you ask for 200 million Dominican pesos, we’ve had enough of you” — were the words of the social media content creator before his arrest at the police headquarters.
President Luis Abinader was asked about the threat during the 15 July 2024 press conference. He responded that there was only so much a President could do to protect himself. He said he felt safe in the country.
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La Semanal Min 36:50
16 July 2024